This tale is part of a larger story I'm working on about a couple who meet, fall in love, and eventually travel to Venezuela to become embroiled in the political and social turmoil happening there today. Can the main protagonists or anyone they meet stick to their convictions in this seemingly God forsaken country? Is … Continue reading Faith to Face Another Day

“A little frustration is healthy,” I reminded Mary. “It will make the success of bagging your first, big tom all that much sweeter. It can only be spoiled if you give up or do something unethical in the meantime.” She was frustrated, yes, but more determined than ever to get her bird. I called in … Continue reading Between Encounters of the 4th and 5th Kind

Even when I was a little boy hunting with my father hours on end, I never wanted to come out of the woods. In later years, I never stopped to think that my sons would be different. Then around the age of 12, I noticed they were losing their enthusiasm for hunting and fishing. I … Continue reading Mary’s Introduction to Turkey Hunting

via Daily Prompt: Provoke It was difficult not to provoke her. It was in my nature. What man in my shoes would not want to provoke her? She certainly provoked me. Mutual provocation in this situation was certainly a good thing, to a point. But we were swiftly approaching that place a part of neither … Continue reading Provocation

I was spilling my guts about how hard work had been for the last year. “How’s the family,” the vendor asked taking me off guard. “Oh, they’re doing great,” I answered. “Life’s not so bad after tall then, is it?” he said. “When you look at it like that,” I answered, “you’re right. I guess … Continue reading Highland Bound

From across the table, Gabriel looked into Debbie’s straw colored eyes. Her frizzy permed hair and even the freckles spattered across her nose were straw colored. It seemed she was a straw person, stuffed like a scarecrow, worn and ragged, left in heat of summer and cold fall rain alone to face the crows, no … Continue reading The Straw Lady

Greg and Mary's Story I had lost my wife to brain cancer a little over a year before my sister introduced me to Mary. I wasn’t looking to light up anyone’s life or even their night. I was looking for companionship pure and simple, someone I could take to dinner and a movie who … Continue reading Disney Springs, Lover’s Paradise

Several of us had gathered in a large foxhole as we traded rations and took a few minutes to eat before going back to where we had dug in before sunset. Even at the worst of times, back home it was never this hot and never so humid at night. All around us silver shards … Continue reading Squirrel Hunters Make the Best Soldiers

via Daily Prompt: Trill Normally I'm so intent on fishing that I hardly hesitate between casts. But this morning I reel in my lure and set the rod down. It's prime fishing time, peak of the bite. I fight the compulsion to make another cast. I close my eyes and lean back against the backrest … Continue reading The Trill Piercing My Heart, Filling My Soul